Hometeam: Crowe flying high for Bernardians

When the going got tough for St. Bernard’s High in Saturday night’s game with St. Peter-Marian, the Bernardians turned to guard Tarah Crowe, and the junior answered the call.

The fleet-footed Crowe scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the first half — many coming on tough, driving scoop shots in close — sparking St. Bernard’s to a 49-28 win at the Guardians’ gym.

Crowe also ran the floor well and scored many points in transition. She converted two three-point plays in the first half, one after she made a steal. Crowe was the game’s lone double-digit scorer.

“I thought Tarah Crowe had a great game,” St. Bernard’s coach Kate Maki said. “She gets a lot of her offense off of her defense and is quick. Tarah was the one who really carried us down the stretch, and I’m extremely proud of her.

“We haven’t had a game in about a week so we’ve been practicing a lot. Coming in here, I knew what my girls were capable of, but I also knew there were some things that we needed to work on. We work hard on defense and that helps our offense. If we can play solid defense, that’s all I’m looking for. And we did that in this game.”

SPM (1-5) hung tough in the first quarter, closing to 9-8 with less than a minute to go when junior guard Amanda Collins sank a baseline jumper. Bernardians senior Abigail Anderson countered with a layup, giving the visitors, who never trailed, an 11-8 lead at the quarter.

St. Bernard’s (4-1) took control with an 11-0 burst to start the second quarter, expanding its lead to 22-8. Crowe got things started, converting a three-point play (fast-break layup, free throw) off a steal and a tough transition hoop.

Crowe caught fire again at the end of the quarter, hitting three layups in the final two minutes to help the Bernardians grab a 35-15 lead at halftime.

St. Peter-Marian battled hard in the second half, holding St. Bernard’s to single-digit scoring in both the third and fourth quarters. Junior Tia Pariseau (seven points) hit two long jumpers in the final three minutes of the third quarter.

“St. Bernard’s is an all-around great team,” Guardians coach Steve Janulewicz said. “They’re a very well-balanced team. Our girls played with a lot of heart, and have played with a lot of energy all year. But hats off to St. Bernard’s — they’re one of the better teams we’ve played.”

Sophomore forward Kristina Domantas scored six points for the Guardians.